MotoGP Sepang Test J2 Jack Miller (2/Ducati): “A rider always complains about something”

Jack Miller achieved a good fifth time on the first day of these Malaysian tests in 1'59.236, 0.291 behind Fabio Quartararo. He impressed, not with this fifth position, but with his very clear domination over the Ducati camp, since Andrea Dovizioso was only eleventh in 1'59.666 and Danilo Petrucci fourteenth in 1'59.939. 

Dovizioso was complaining of teething problems on his Desmosedici, and he was therefore expected in the front row this Saturday morning. But it was Miller again who struck hard by taking first position in 1'58.641, before El Diablo beat him by 0.069 with three quarters of an hour to go. Dovizioso, victim of a small fall in Turn 6, did not threaten him directly. Dani Pedrosa got closer at the end of the session with his KTM in third position, 0.021 behind Jack, but none of the leading men (Quartararo, Miller, Pedrosa) were sent back to the track by his team to achieve a super time, in order to avoid any unnecessary excitement, possibly a source of falls harmful to man and the motorcycle. The search for a fast time on a lap is a priori reserved for the third day, with the new Michelins in the soft version.

At the end of this second of three days of testing on the Sepang track, Miller ranked second in 1'58.641, 0.069 behind Fabio Quartararo, having completed a total of 51 laps. Once again, like the day before, Jack dominated the other Ducati grouped with Petrucci thirteenth in 1'59.257 at 0.685, Bagnaia fourteenth in 1'59.313 at 0.741, Dovi fifteenth in 1'59.342 at 0.770, Zarco nineteenth in 1'59.825 at 1.253, and finally Rabat twentieth in 2'00.189 at 1.617. The bike was going well, but Miller noted with a smile that it could be improved, because “A pilot always complains about something. »

According to Jack Miller, “The bike behaved quite well compared to yesterday. In Sepang we have a particularly concentrated work plan. So I'm very happy with the sensations on the track. It's good to be at the front. »

“We focused on several things, yesterday the guys on the team worked late. We are mainly working on the new rear tire brought by Michelin and therefore on the balance of the bike. But also the electronics, as well as the character of the motorcycle. »

“I think we can get to 1'57 tomorrow, but we'll have to see the conditions. I was surprised by today's time. We started with used tires, then switched to new tires and the clock came. I have to say that the Ducati works relatively well. There are some areas for improvement, but the team is working hard. »

“We have progressed in several areas, acceleration, consistency, as well as many aspects. So there are different things, especially corner entry and corner speed and electronics. But we must confirm them and improve the aspects that give us problems. »

“The hardest part is swinging the back, in fact I risked falling. These two Michelin tires are a big change and you have to understand them. Overall I felt good with the bike, acceleration is very good. Apart from that, we have to continue working because we have a very demanding schedule. »

“Dovi?” I don't know, I wasn't interested in him because I already had so much to think about. »

The fastest Ducati during last year's Sepang winter testing clocked a 1'58.239 driven by Danilo Petrucci (best time). Then during the Malaysian Grand Prix, the best qualified was that of Jack Miller who was positioned 4th on the grid in 1'58.725. The best time for a Ducati in the race was 4th in 1'59.940, to the credit of Andrea Dovizioso.

 

Ranking of the second day of testing:

Credit rankings: MotoGP.com

 

Reference times:

Test record: 1'58.239 by Danilo Petrucci (Ducati) in February 2019

Official testing record: 1'58.303 by Fabio Quartararo (Yamaha) in 2019

Lap record: 1'59.661 by Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) in 2019

 

 

Photos © motogp.com / Dorna and Pramac